Are the subjects animate? Yes. Could they interact with the king? No; see below.

CLARIFICATION OF PUZZLE, now that I see it's not complete: The king could not interact with any of his subjects and have them interact back. Why? (In other words, the king cannot interact insomuch as he would not receive reciprocal interaction.) I just thought this one up, my bad. (:

That said, the following are still (somewhat) relevant questions: Was he physically able to interact? Yes. Or did he choose not to? No. If the latter, did he have a reason not to? No reason not to.

Is the king alive? real? fictional? are his subjects? Is a specific way of interacting relevant? a special situation? Did he interact with his subjects? Did they respond? Were they supposed to respond? Were they physically able to notice the king's interaction? Were they physically able to respond? Species relevant? An extinct species? Were the subjects of the same species as the king?

Is the king alive? Yes. real? fictional? Fictional. are his subjects? Irrelevant.Is a specific way of interacting relevant? Yes-ish. a special situation? Not really.

Did he interact with his subjects? Yes. Did they respond? No. Were they supposed to respond? I guess so. Were they physically able to notice the king's interaction? Yes. Were they physically able to respond? No.Species relevant? Yes-ish.An extinct species? No.Were the subjects of the same species as the king? No.

Is the king from a book? A comic? A movie? A cartoon? A dream? A story/joke/whatever being told verbally? Maybe a book or a story.

The basilisk? This is it. Well done.All of the rest of the questions should be answered in the **********SPOILER*********The basilisk is a mythical creature said to be king of the lizards - etymology fanatics like me will recognize its name "basiliskos" as Greek for "little king". Its touch, gaze, and perhaps even being in its presence is enough to turn any living thing to stone or kill it instantly. Any creatures living nearby are subject to its wrath, though the odor of a weasel is said to destroy it. A related beast is the cockatrice.Thanks for playing, everyone!

These creatures are (apparently) born when a chicken incubates a reptile's egg, or vice versa. I think one leads to a basilisk and the other a cockatrice; the former is mostly snake and the latter mostly chicken with some scaly bits thrown on.